Thumb tack dispensing device



Ap 1942- R. scHwARzKoPF 2,281,208

THUMB TACK DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed May 4 1941 (I I 6" a f- VIA 471 AWI/t ////l/////,

" a i ii iiiiiii' Willi INVENTOR R050? 30/? I r ATTORQEY Patented Apr.28, 1942 UNETED STATES FA'EENT @FFIQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to article dispensing devices and moreparticularly to a device for dispensing thumb tacks. Thumb tacks areused for a plurality of purposes and are generally sold in quantity inboxes. The large head of the tack invariably locates the same in restposition with the point thereof extending upwardly with the result thatin grasping the tack, when lying either alone or grouped with othertacks, the point invariably pricks the thumb or forefinger. One of theobjects of the present invention is to provide a thumb tack dispensingdevice facilitating the manual grasping of a thumb tack. Another objectis to provide a dispensing device for thumb tacks adapted to present asuccession of thumb tacks for successive easy and ready grasping by thethumb and forefinger of a hand. Other objects and advantages will beapparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with these objects I have devised a thumb tack dispensingdevice comprising a base member provided with an inclined thumb tackdelivery chute T-shaped in cross-section having a length adapting thesame to receive a plurality of tacks, the bottom of the said chute beingprovided with manually operative means to effect the successivedischarge of the plurality of tacks from the said chute in such manneras to provide for the ready grasping of the tack between the thumb andforefinger of the hand.

As one specific embodiment of the present invention, but not as alimitation thereof, the ar rangement shown in the accompanying drawingwhich is particularly adapted for use by architects and draftsmen, willbe described and illustrated.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the said specific embodiment of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the same;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section along plane 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial section along plane 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one element of the invention.

The thumb tack dispensing device illustrated in the drawing comprises abase member B which is preferably comprised of solid material such aswood or molded plastic and which preferably also is rectangular insection and provided with two adjacent sides lying at right angles toeach other. Means, such as car flaps l-l and 2-2 on the said two sidesrespectively, is also provided to secure the base B to either avertically or horizontally sustained wall or surface W, thereby tolocate the third or angularly disposed side of the base B in a positioninclined to the horizontal. The particular angle of inclination of thethird side of base B may be varied widely without essential departurefrom the present invention, but should be at least sufiicient to providefor the gravity fall of tacks along chutes C, C and C" provided intheface thereof.

Chutes C, C and C" are T-shaped in crosssection and extend substantiallythe full length of base B between the opposite side edges thereoflocated at different horizontal levels. The depth and section of chute C(CC") is adapted to providefor the relatively free gravity fall of thumbtacks T, preferably point end up, along the said chute to the bottom ordischarge opening thereof.

The bottom or discharge opening of chute C (C'-C") is closed by means Mmanually operative to effect the successive and controlled dis- 2 chargeof the tacks T disposed in chute C in a position adapting the same to begrasped between the thumb and forefinger of a hand. This means M may bewidely varied without essential departure from the present invention.For the field of use contemplated, it is desirable to arrange thedischarge means M so that each tack as discharged from the chute C maybe grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the hand with the minimumof time and effort. The means M as illustrated is designed to meet thisparticular condition.

As shown the means M comprises a curved spring leaf member I2 located inthe lower or discharge end of chute C in a position to form in restposition an upwardly curved continuation of the bottom of the chute C,closing the chute C against the free fall of thumb tacks therethrough,and extending beyond the end of the chute a sufiicient distanceproviding for the manual depression of the leaf member l2 to a positionproviding for a substantially straight line continuation of the bottomof the chute C and for the gravity discharge of a tack T therealong fromthe chute C.

To accomplish this result the means M is formed substantially asindicated in Fig. 6, essentially as a reverse bend leaf spring with thetwo leaf members l2 and I4 spaced apart by curved section 15 asufiicient distance relative to the curvature of spring leaf 12 topermit depression of leaf E2 to a position approximately parallel toleaf [4. Insofar as its spring action is concerned the spring member,per se, is old and well known in the art. However, to facilitate themanual operation of the spring leaf [2 from rest or closure position a(Fig. 5) to open or discharge position 1) (shown in dotted line) I haveprovided a finger engaging extension l3 on the end thereof. As indicatedin the drawing, the bottom leaf member I4 also is provided with a flangeextension l5 provided with an opening 16 to facilitate the securing ofthe spring in position by screw H in the base B.

To facilitate the manual grasping of each tack T as released fordischarge from the bottom of chute C by manually depressing spring I2 toposition b (Fig. 5) the surface of base B at the bottom end of eachchute C is provided with a finger cut-out section F, substantially asindicated, having a depth at least sufficient to expose the point l8 ofthumb tack T. With the arrangement shown the spring I2 may be depressedto tack discharging position by engaging the crooked forefinger inextension l3 and the thumb of the same hand may at the same time beplaced in cut-out section F to engage the point 18 of tack T and toslide the tack T to position X on the leaf extension and thence to aposition where the forefinger can be raised to engage the tack head.

To facilitate the insertion of tacks T in chutes C, C, C, the top orentrance end of the chutes are provided with cut-away sections I0,substantially as indicated in the drawing.

To prevent the inadvertent discharge of tacks T from the top or entranceend of chutes C, C,

C", removable closure members H are provided therefor.

From the above description and the specific embodiment given it isbelieved apparent that many modifications and adaptations may be made ofthe present invention without essential departure therefrom and all suchare contemplated as may fall within the scope of the of the followingclaims.

What 1 claim is:

l. A thumb tack dispensing device comprising a base member provided withat least one inclined chute of inverted T-shape cross-section having asize, shape and configuration approximating but larger than that ofthumb tacks disposed therein and a length several times the diameter ofa tack, the bottom of said chute being closed by a manually operativetack discharging means, said tack discharging means comprising a curvedspring leaf member sustained in the discharge end of said chute toprovide a closure therefor when in rest position and in spring depressedposition to permit the gravity fall of tacks from the said chute.

2. A thumb tack dispensing device comprising a base member provided withat least one inclined chute of inverted T-shape cross-section having asize, shape and configuration approximating but larger than that ofthumb tacks disposed therein and a length several times the diameter ofa tack, the bottom of said chute being closed by a manually operativetack discharging means, said tack discharging means comprising areversely bent shaped spring leaf member, one portion of said leafmember being curved outwardly away from the other portion of said leafmember, the end of the first named portion being provided with a fingerengaging extension and the other portion of said leaf member beingprovided with an outwardly extending flange extension at right angles tothe outside surface thereof.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a block ofsolid material triangular in section with two adjacent sides thereof atsubstantial right angles to each other and wherein the said chute islocated on and recessed in the third said side.

ROBERT SCHWARZKOPF.

